Daijiworld Media Network- Tehran
Tehran, Jun 17: In a striking display of courage under fire, Iranian state TV anchor Sahar Imani has captured the admiration of millions after she returned to live broadcasting just minutes after an Israeli missile strike hit her news studio in Tehran.
The dramatic incident occurred on Sunday evening while Imani was delivering a live news bulletin. Footage showed the studio visibly shaken as a missile struck the compound, forcing an abrupt halt to the broadcast. Despite the chaos, Imani, one of Iran's most recognisable media faces, returned moments later to resume her bulletin—unflinching, composed, and determined.
Social media has been abuzz since the incident, with images and clips of Imani’s calm return and a symbolic finger-pointing gesture at Israel going viral. Her poise has earned her widespread praise across Iran and the Arab world, with many hailing her as a symbol of “women’s strength” in Iran. Her photo has been shared alongside prominent figures such as Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and Hezbollah’s late commander Hassan Nasrallah.
“Sahar Imani’s courage is a testament to Iranian women's resilience,” tweeted Zahra Behramzadeh Azar, Iran’s Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, who added that Imani’s act has made her the "voice of the Iranian people against aggression."
Sahar Imani, originally trained in food engineering, began her media career in 2010 and has since become a trusted face on Iranian national television. She is married and a mother to one child.
Middle Eastern news outlets highlighted her natural, dignified appearance, applauding her for avoiding theatricality and focusing on journalistic integrity during the crisis.
Meanwhile, pro-Iranian voices across social media and news platforms condemned the missile strike, describing it as an attempt to "silence the truth." Hezbollah issued a statement calling the attack “a Zionist crime” and “systematic terrorism,” aimed at weakening the morale of Iranian journalists.
In an official response, Iran’s broadcasting authority stated, “The enemy may destroy buildings, but it cannot shake our spirit. Sahar Imani and her team have shown the world that Iranian media will not be silenced.”
The incident has not only turned Sahar Imani into a national icon but also underlined the increasing use of media spaces as symbolic battlegrounds amid rising tensions in the Middle East.